In a statement released on Monday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) condemned the “senseless” call by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to destroy historical monuments.

“The historical mission handed over to us by our first democratic President Nelson Mandela, challenges us to pursue a truly transformed, inclusive society based on reconciliation,” the statement read, going on to state Mandela “did not support the destruction of monuments, but rather the building of new ones”.

The DA expressed concern that the “outright removal” of statues and monuments is as big a concern as their destruction, and that the debate around such monuments should “go further toward addressing the scandalous lack of support, both educational and financial, for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.”